The Laramie Garden Club became involved with the gardens at the Ivinson Mansion Laramie Plains Museum moved into the mansion in 1972-73. At that time the club began gardening in the "memorial garden" on the southeast side of the mansion. There is a square two-level stone and cement structure where the first level can be used as a bench and a statue is on the top of the second level. It was placed there by the Laramie Women's Club that was organized in Laramie in 1898. It was to honor Laramie's "First Ladies" who pioneered civic and political responsibility by women in country and the world. There is a plaque on each side of the structure to honor Louisa Gardner Swain as the first women to vote in September 6, 1970; the six women who were the first to serve on a jury in March, 1870; Mrs. Martha Symons-Boies who was the first woman bailiff in 1870; and Mary Gadat Bellamy who was first elected to the Wyoming state legislature representing Albany County in 1911. The garden beds are on three sides of the structure. On the north side there is the first bench on the property, and it was dedicated in 1994 by the Laramie Garden Club to honor the charter members that organized the club in 1960.
The Laramie Garden Club also bought crabapple trees to go around the perimeter of the block. Two Colorado blue spruce trees were planted in memory of charter garden club members. One is at the northwest corner of the mansion and the plaque reads it was in loving memory of Floy G. Nelson, dated June 9, 1984. Another is located in the southeast corner of the block, and it was for Otto Dahl, July 13, 1985. The original plan for the mansion gardens was drawn up by Otto Dahl as a garden club member and also the University of Wyoming's head gardener. Many of the spruce and pine trees as well as benches were placed in the garden as memorials or to honor friends and loved ones.
The Laramie Garden Club also bought crabapple trees to go around the perimeter of the block. Two Colorado blue spruce trees were planted in memory of charter garden club members. One is at the northwest corner of the mansion and the plaque reads it was in loving memory of Floy G. Nelson, dated June 9, 1984. Another is located in the southeast corner of the block, and it was for Otto Dahl, July 13, 1985. The original plan for the mansion gardens was drawn up by Otto Dahl as a garden club member and also the University of Wyoming's head gardener. Many of the spruce and pine trees as well as benches were placed in the garden as memorials or to honor friends and loved ones.
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Until around 1988-89, Garland Deaderick, the care taker at that time took care of the other gardens on the property. When the gardens weren't getting enough care, Carolyn Nelson started to garden in some of the other areas. Around 2001 the club gradually took on the gardens and some of the yard and the care taker of the museum watered the beds. Among the members who worked throughout the years at the Laramie Plains Museum gardens besides Carolyn were Jan Cartwright, Blanche Sanders, Janet Shively, Ruth McNamee, Erica Gnapt and others, Angela and Andy Faxon, Dona Coffey, Frank Mesa, Rebecca Taylor, Inga Kjartan, Pat Kiovsky, Barb Rouse, Nancy Smueles, Annie Nelson, Doris Eyestone, Dorothy Moore, Sascha Lodge, and Carol and Steve Hoff.
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In 2004-2005 the garden which is northeast of the carriage house was established by the club and a grant from the Laramie River Conservation District was obtained. Pat Kiovsky was instrumental in this project. The plaques on the stone are of thanks to the Laramie Garden Club and Carolyn Nelson, head gardener and curator of the museum from 1990-1998; the Laramie River Conservation District; to Greta Neubaur who in the 1960's single-handedly maintained the Ivinson Grounds known as "Greta's Garden"; and to Dorthea Moen who was Ivinson Mansion housekeeper from 1888-1900 and was the great-grandmother of Mark Moen, the donor of the flagstone for the garden path. Mike Snow donated the irrigation system for the garden. The garden became known as the "Garden Path" and contains shade and herb plants.
In 2011 the Laramie Women's Club established a fragrance garden on the southwest corner of the Alice Hardy Stevens center. It surrounds a flagstone area that can be used for seating. |
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The intent of the museum gardens is to contain heirloom flowers from around the time period when the mansion was built in 1893. Many of the flowers in the gardens were referenced in Restoring American Gardens 1640-1940. Flowers, such as roses, clematis, lilies, foxgloves, Maltese cross, poppies, phlox, hostas, iris, hollyhocks, peonies, and many more are found in the gardens.
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The garden club at this time is caring for all the gardens at the museum, outdoor planters, and trimming of the shrubs and low trees. Porch planters are planted by Eileen Routson. Watering is done by the museum care taker and the summer junior docents water the planters. Committee: Carol Hoff (chair), Steve Hoff, Sharon Leder, Barb Rouse, Annie Nelson, Denise Greller, Jenny Myers, Eliza Fay, Dorothy Moore.
